Pearce calls on Dockers to pull together

Pearce calls on Dockers to pull together - The West Australian

Danyle Pearce says it will be a collective effort to cover the losses of fellow Fremantle midfielders Nat Fyfe and Michael Barlow over the next fortnight.

Barlow has been ruled out for two weeks with a broken thumb, while Fyfe will fight a two-week ban for striking Hawthorn’s Jordan Lewis at the AFL Tribunal this afternoon.

Speaking ahead of his 200th game against Brisbane on Sunday, Pearce said he knew little about the Fyfe suspension or Barlow’s injury, but backed the club’s depth to cover the key pair in games against the Lions and his former team Port Adelaide in round 23.

Feisty small forward Hayden Ballantyne is a certainty to return from hamstring soreness, while dropped pair Nick Suban and Matt de Boer are also in the frame for a recall.

“Today was a bit of a lighter day so we’re just hearing hearsay about what’s going on and heard about Mick this morning,” Pearce said.

“If it’s true and we’re missing both then the next person that steps in has a role to play and again the whole midfield group has to step up.

“We have shown over the last few years that when someone does fall out or get injured that they can come in a player has come in and filled their role and everyone else has stepped up.

“I think we had a challenging patch last year where we had a few big players out and the next person just stepped in and the season just kept rolling.”

Pearce said he was proud to reach the 200-game milestone after 154 games with the Power.

“I’m honoured to be able to run for the milestone on the weekend,” he said.

“It’s not just another game, but we prepare exactly the same way and week in week out, it’s been said here before that we prepare every week like it’s a grand final and it will be no different this week.

“It feels really quick.

“I’ve been fortunate not to have any major injuries so it’s come around.

“Going into this week when I did realise it was coming up, reflect a little bit and move on.